Nomad Pictures
Brian Beresford Collection
Images of an Eastern Odyssey

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Nomad Pictures is a London based photo library that holds the “Brian Beresford Collection”. This collection is an outstanding archive of around 12,000 photographic images taken by one of the most prominent Tibet photographers of the late twentieth century, who sadly passed away in 1997. Images focus on the Tibetans and their spiritual leaders as well as peoples of South East Asia, and the Himalayan region.

This vital resource helps to promote the work of charities, Buddhist publications, campaign groups, students and individuals working to further the Tibetan cause and preserve Tibetan culture worldwide. Proceeds from the sale of these images are used to further preserve the collection.

Copyright Notice

All photographs on this site are the copyrighted property of ©Brian Beresford/Nomad Pictures. They are protected by international copyright laws and may not be reproduced without prior written permission.

Brian Beresford 1948 -1997
Brian’s striking photos of Tibet and Tibetans reflect a close relationship with His Holiness the Dalai Lama as well as the wonders of Tibetan culture and people he encountered during his extensive travels. Many locations he photographed had at the time never been reached by westerners, and many have since been destroyed as a result of the social upheaval. Images include extensive coverage of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, H.H. the 16th Karmapa, Dilgo Khyentse, the private thangka collection of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Kalu Rinpoche, Lama Yeshe and many other of Tibet’s great Lama’s. Four trips to Mount Kailash and Western Tibet enabled him to photograph rare images of the early cities of the Shang Shung kingdom, the capital Khyung Lung as well as Tsaparang and Tholing. Images include the Medical College at Lhasa, the Jokhang, Norbulingka and Nechung, as well as many breathtaking images of Tibetan nomads, pilgrims, religious masters and Tibetan daily life. These photos have featured in a number of high profile exhibitions, they have been widely published and on many occasions have been used to illustrate the writings of Tricycle Magazine and Wisdom Publications. Copies of Brian’s Lama Yeshe series of photographs have been requested by the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive.

The profound significance of this collection cannot be underestimated. Brian Beresford was amongst the first group of Westerners who settled in Dharamsala, North India, during the early seventies, in order to be close to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and study Buddhism. He became the first western editor of the Translation Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, taught Buddhist studies and Tibetan language, and translated and published many important spiritual works including Wisdom Publication’s ‘Advice from A Spiritual Friend’ with Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey and Geshe Rabten. He led four expeditions to mount Kailash and Western Tibet and hosted an epic journey with Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche (now known as Chogyal Namkhai Norbu) travelling through the Silk Route with a large group of over 70 westerners. Between 1980-1988, Brian acted as the Dalai Lama’s official photographer, gaining unprecedented access to the most intimate aspects of Tibet Buddhism, ritual and culture.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama always had a soft spot for Brian, performing the Powa ritual on hearing of his death and receiving his ashes after cremation. Brian has left an amazing photographic legacy, a crucial resource to illustrate and communicate the history and plight of the Tibetan people and their fight to save their identity.

Contact:

If you cannot find the image you require online our experienced researchers are on hand to help you locate pictures from our physical archive of over 30,000 images.

Nomad Pictures
5 Torrens Street
London EC1V 1NQ

 tel +44 (0)7944 600 186
info@nomadpictures.co.uk

Dolma Beresford
Archive Manager + Licensing
dolma@nomadpictures.co.uk

Henry Madsen
Archiving + Research
henry@nomadpictures.co.uk

Matt Kay / K Dimension
Web Site Manager
webmaster@nomadpictures.co.uk